Hands-On With The Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified [With Video]

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370 euro is a lot of money.😟

It's $330 AUD here, which yes is too much also, but that's 199 EUR if I plug it into Google. You're seeing 370 on that link?
 
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It's $330 AUD here, which yes is too much also, but that's 199 EUR if I plug it into Google. You're seeing 370 on that link?
I switched to Spain to check euro pricing and got 370. must be wrong pricing applied as 199 sound more in the ball park of OEM Nato straps
 
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I checked on the French site, 360eur 🤑
 
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It’s here! The Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified debuted as a pilot-only watch a few months ago, but Omega decided to make a slightly different version available for people like you (assuming you aren’t a US military pilot) and me. Originally for US military pilots At the end of September, we showed you the US military […]

Visit Hands-On With The Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified [With Video] to read the full article.
beautiful video!!
 
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For me, it's not going to bump the FOIS2 off the top spot. At this price, I'd rather add something different to my box, like the Zenith Chronomaster Sport I've been lusting after. I'd also prefer a vintage Flightmaster than this one.
 
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Omega's strap prices are overpriced, imo, just not good value. That's generally the case with OEM branded straps. There are so many after market strap makers that I see little need to overpay to have Omega stamped on the inside. Even a bespoke strap is less money.
 
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@Robert-Jan - awesome write up and amazing video content. Thank you for whetting the appetite even further for one of these, after reading the thread that surfaced about the military-only issue version of this one.

I've never been a fan of the two counter Speedmaster, or any Speedmaster with a date window, but this one is a really cool option and such a far departure from the original design that I think it makes it easier to overlook that and just enjoy it for a better proportion modern "Flightmaster". I will admit that the thickness is not ideal and keeping it around 14mm would be have been preferred, but I'll wait to make the judgement if its too chunky when the boutiques start to get them in stock to try on.

Lots of fun, interesting options from Omega this year (the new DSOTM, the white professional, the new FOIS, and now this). I'm wondering if they should have kept a little gas in the tank and waited to release the new FOIS and this FQ Speedmaster in January. How will they follow all of this up in 2025? 🤔
 
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It's $330 AUD here, which yes is too much also, but that's 199 EUR if I plug it into Google. You're seeing 370 on that link?
I’m seeing $330 USD 😳
 
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Lots of fun, interesting options from Omega this year (the new DSOTM, the white professional, the new FOIS, and now this). I'm wondering if they should have kept a little gas in the tank and waited to release the new FOIS and this FQ Speedmaster in January. How will they follow all of this up in 2025? 🤔

Apollo-Soyuz 50th? 🤞
 
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Apollo-Soyuz 50th? 🤞
Ahhh, that's right. The 35th anniversary Apollo x Soyuz leaves some big shoes to fill though. One of my favorite Speedmasters of all time.
....still enjoying the Speedeorite that you sold me. 😍
 
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....still enjoying the Speedeorite that you sold me. 😍
So you keep saying...😭

😉
 
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The dial is visually interesting and unique, but it's a watch which won't appeal to everyone. As with any watch, need to see it on wrist. For the price, it's a hard wait at this point. Plus the fact I got a White Dial earlier this year and have a couple pieces arriving in the next day or two, done for this year.
 
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You should keep your powder dry and just get a Snoopy.
You forgot to stir the pot...
 
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It looks like the included "Kevlar-reinforced" NATO will be available as a normal accessory soon.
Oo ... I bet this will work well with the GSotM!
 
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Omega's strap prices are overpriced, imo, just not good value. That's generally the case with OEM branded straps. There are so many after market strap makers that I see little need to overpay to have Omega stamped on the inside. Even a bespoke strap is less money.

Agreed, but at least you do get confidence the strap is very good. Omega's leather, rubber and polyamide NATO options are all up there with the best in the industry. I've yet to handle a rubber or NATO strap better than Omega's. I don't think it necessarily justifies the margin, but at least you're getting something for your money, plus the Omega branding on those is prominent. Leather is more arguable.

The first OEM NATO I bought was in around 2020 or so, and it was $180 AUD. I thought it was overpriced then but they're now $300 AUD for the same thing. This new Pilot Kevlar-reinforced NATO is $330 AUD, and if they're really trying to charge what some of these other countries are apparently seeing... that's just a step too far.

I suspect the biggest price jump was to add the weirdly over the top red strap case, which btw I am convinced the manufacturer is repurposing an old Sony PSP hard shell mould for. I would honestly rather they drop the price by $50 and get rid of that extraneous case and just sell the strap in a cardboard sleeve like they used to. But I've found some good purposes for mine.

 
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Those mentioning legibility and luminosity, here's how modern day fighter pilots carry an extra watch...
Simple black plastic Ironman type quartz watch strapped to the lower leg anti-G-suit (prevents blackout / unconsciousness during high G turns).
.
 
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It looks like British Royal Navy F-35 B pilots wear the large legible 42.5 mm CITIZEN Eco-Drive WR100 wrist watch...
At least senior US Air Force & F-35 Lightning II Chief Test Pilot Alan Norman wore an Omega Speedmaster, but a Tachymètre remains useless!
(LockheedMartin)
.



 
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Has anyone here gotten one yet? I'm not seeing any in WRUW. Lots of us jumped on the FOIS.
 
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Didn't get it but went to the boutique to look at it. I really like it. The lower part of the running seconds subdial looks like a dark brown to me.
 
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Didn't get it but went to the boutique to look at it. I really like it. The lower part of the running seconds subdial looks like a dark brown to me.
You can probably buy the real one, right? I like your pictures, best detail I have seen.